as in to backfire
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it
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Recent Examples of boomerang
Time-and-date karma was always going to boomerang.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
The ball skidded though the green, banged off the Truist fencing and boomeranged right back into the same bunker.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices.
—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
25 Mar. 2026
The idea of Miami boomeranging from 7-10 to make the playoffs next year and maybe even end that playoff-victory drought is not be crazy.
—
Greg Cote
january 26,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boomerang
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
The ball skidded though the green, banged off the Truist fencing and boomeranged right back into the same bunker.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices.
—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
25 Mar. 2026
The idea of Miami boomeranging from 7-10 to make the playoffs next year and maybe even end that playoff-victory drought is not be crazy.
—
Greg Cote
january 26,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boomerang
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang
Verb
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Some fashion retailers‘ efforts to reduce the higher import costs are backfiring.
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The data shows the 2020 changes completely backfired.
Verb
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When AllHere collapsed in mid-2024, the district — with Carvalho’s support — launched an internal review.
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At least 383 buildings and over 1,000 other structures had collapsed or were heavily affected, and officials were still assessing the damage.
Verb
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This one kinda flopped Stateside but was pretty big around the world.
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The record flopped — but their next, Sounds of Silence, fared better, thanks to their sumptuous harmonies and Garfunkel’s hauntingly emotive voice.
Cite this Entry
“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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